All Pods / Public Policy
The Future Changemaker’s Guide: Understanding and influencing government's impact on your life
Civic engagement: Learning the fundamentals of local, state, and U.S. federal government functions
Group size
1-6 students
Outcome
An op-ed about a current policy issue at any level of government. Additionally, some students may work towards publishing an article in a pre-print research archive, if they choose.
Tuition
$495
Cohorts
Join the waitlist for our next cohort.
Sign up to be the first to know when we launch the next cohort.
The Future Changemaker’s Guide: Understanding and influencing government's impact on your life
Government is at work all around us: every time we mail a letter, drive in a car, even when we check out at a grocery store. So often, government feels so out of touch that it’s invisible, yet it leaves its fingerprints all over our lives. In this pod, future politicians, lawyers, journalists, and activists of all kinds will learn the basic functions of each level of U.S. government through theory and the exploration of current events, as well as understand the power individuals have to influence their communities. By the end of the pod, you’ll know how to keep up with the issues you care most about and how to persuade others to care about them, too.
Week by week curriculum
Week 1
The big picture. We’ll begin with a brief introduction to U.S. government. Students will be able to describe the federal system and give an overview of what each level of government is typically responsible for.
Week 2
When a bill becomes law. Schoolhouse Rock didn’t tell you the whole story. Students will be able to map the process from lawmaking to execution, including executive rulemaking, public comment, and regulation.
Week 3
The District. The federal government makes headlines across the nation and is our highest level of government. Students will be able to specifically explain the interplay between the federal Legislative and Executive branches and the limits imposed on the federal government by the Constitution.
Week 4
Division of power. Students will be able to distinguish between state and federal government and uncover which milestones are most important in their own state Legislative calendars.
Week 5
Your own backyard. Students will be able to discuss the services their local governments provide and the many touchpoints that exist for engaging in local government, from school boards to community boards to city councils.
Week 6
Civil society. Students will be able to explain why politics aren’t the only important players in government and will be able to describe the functions of journalism, civil society, and academia in setting the parameters for government action.